Housing Agreements & Renewals | Faculty & Postdocs

Housing agreements are sent via DocuSign to residents by email:

  • Postdocs: Agreement are sent automatically after a housing offer is accepted
  • Faculty: Agreement is sent 10 days before move-in

Agreements are typically issued for 12 months or until the end of the resident’s university affiliation—whichever comes first. Once signed and submitted, Columbia Residential will process the agreement and email a copy to the resident for their records.

Residents who are reappointed for the same housing-eligible position will receive a renewal offer 2–3 months before their current agreement ends.
Residents who are no longer eligible for university housing may be required to vacate before the agreement end date, depending on their affiliation status.

A resident's affiliation end date is the date when their housing allocation and eligibility for housing with Residential ends. This is typically the date their university appointment ends. Residents can view their affiliation end date by logging into the Housing Portal, selecting Tenant Profile, and navigating to the Affiliation tab. 

To continue living in Columbia Residential housing beyond the current agreement end date, residents must have a continued university appointment that qualifies for university housing.

  • Residents who are eligible to renew will receive a renewal offer approximately 2–3 months before their current agreement ends. Renewal agreements are typically offered for one year or until the end of the resident’s university affiliation—whichever comes first.
  • Residents whose university appointment is not renewed will not receive a renewal agreement and must vacate their unit within 30 days of their affiliation end date or by the end of their current agreement, whichever occurs first.
  • Rent typically increases 2–5% annually, effective July 1. 
  • The updated rent is included in the renewal agreement so residents can make an informed decision. 

Renewal agreements are sent via DocuSign and must be signed by the stated deadline. 

  • Once processed, a copy of the signed renewal is automatically sent to the resident for their records. 
  • Residents who decline their renewal or do not sign by the deadline will be required to vacate by the end of the current agreement. 
  • If a renewal expires unintentionally, residents should email [email protected] immediately to discuss options. 

Eligibility to extend time in Columbia Residential housing is based on housing affiliations, which are tied to a resident’s appointment dates for a housing-eligible university position. All affiliations are subject to confirmation by the sponsoring/hiring school or department.

To request an extension, residents must submit an Affiliation Review Request through the Tenant Profile tab in the Housing Portal. Requests can be submitted at any time, but should be made at least 2–3 months before the current housing agreement ends.

Affiliation reviews are conducted by the resident’s school or department and Columbia Residential. Decisions will be communicated before the affiliation end date. Residents who are approved for additional time must sign a housing renewal agreement.

Residents who receive a reappointment to a housing-eligible position may continue to qualify for extended housing and must submit yearly affiliation review requests if needed.

Columbia Residential is committed to supporting faculty and postdocs through each stage of their housing journey and will provide reminders and guidance to help residents meet these requirements with confidence.